Beekeeping in Poway, California
Up to three hives are permitted as of right in the rural residential and RS-1 zones, more with a minor permit. RS-2 needs a permit for any hive, and RS-3, RS-4, RS-7, RC, RA and mobile home parks prohibit them.
What Poway itself requires
Hive limit: Three hives as of right in RR-A through RR-C and RS-1. Four or more needs a minor conditional use permit, as does any hive in RS-2.
Note: Poway answers the question by zone and by hive count together, so find your zone first. If you are in one of the rural residential zones, RR-A through RR-C, or in RS-1, you may keep up to three hives with no permit at all, and a fourth or more needs a minor conditional use permit from the city. In RS-2 every hive needs that minor permit, however few you keep. In RS-3, RS-4, RS-7, RC and RA the code marks beekeeping not permitted, and those are the smaller-lot zones where much of the city lives. Mobile home parks are a flat no. If you own or manage open space in the OS-RM zone, hives are possible there with a minor permit, which is a useful option for someone placing colonies away from houses. Register with the San Diego County Agricultural Commissioner as state law requires, and note that the county registration duty at section 62.903 reaches inside the city even though the rest of the county ordinance does not.
- One to three beehives are permitted. 17.08.110(J)(1)
- Four or more beehives require a minor conditional use permit. In RS-2 a minor conditional use permit is required for any number of hives. 17.08.110(J)(2)
- Keeping of beehives is marked not permitted. 17.08.110(J)
- Keeping of beehives in the open space-resource management zone requires a minor conditional use permit. 17.14
- Keeping of beehives is not permitted in the mobile home park zone. 17.16.020
What San Diego County adds
Beekeeping is allowed in the unincorporated county under a three-tier scheme sized by colony count, with setbacks, a signed best-practices checklist at registration and a monthly hive check. Registration applies everywhere in the county, including inside cities.
Read this carefully: a county beekeeping ordinance very often applies only to the unincorporated parts of the county, with registration as the exception that reaches inside city limits. Where that is true, the county setbacks, barriers and firebreak rules are not yours to follow and the city code above is what governs you. Check which parts reach you before assuming either way.
The full San Diego County ordinance, section by section, and every other city ›
California requires registration, wherever you keep bees
Every apiary owner in California must register their hives with the county agricultural commissioner, hobbyist and commercial alike. It is state law, so almost no city code mentions it, and reading only your local ordinance will not tell you it exists.
Other cities in San Diego County
Carlsbad Chula Vista Coronado El Cajon Encinitas Escondido Lemon Grove San Diego City Santee Solana Beach Vista